UCLA Football: 5 top recruits make official visits

Much has been made this week about UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow and USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian meeting for the first time Saturday since they worked together at USC and their apparently strained relationship.

But Chow, a longtime assistant at Brigham Young, and Sarkisian, who played quarterback at BYU under Chow, are also battling on another familiar turf--Utah's recruiting trails.

One of their prime targets is John Martinez, a highly touted offensive lineman out of Salt Lake City's Cottonwood High School. Martinez visited USC last weekend and is one of five high profile recruits making official visits to UCLA starting Friday.

Martinez is 6-feet-4, 275 pounds and reportedly has been clocked at 4.88 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Besides the Bruins and Trojans he is also considering BYU and LSU. He has already dropped Ohio State from his list of potential schools.

The Bruins and Trojans are also going head-to-head for another top prospect visiting Westwood this weekend, Chandler, Arizona receiver Markus Wheaton. Wheaton is 6-1, 170 with a 4.45 40. He has already visited Oregon and is also looking at California, Colorado and Nebraska.

Also visiting UCLA this weekend:

*Joel Gray, a 6-6, 288, offensive lineman from Lewisville, Texas. Gray has reportedly already verbally committed to Texas Tech but could be wavering given Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach's talks with Washington.

*Tyler Stockton, a 6-1, 280 defensive tackle out of The Hun School in Princeton, N.J. Stockton verbally committed to Notre Dame last spring but apparently is now reconsidering. Tennessee, Penn State and North Carolina are also in the hunt.

*James Jackson, a 5-11, 175 wide receiver out of Michigan's Grand Ledge High School. Jackson, who runs a 4.31 40, earlier verbally committed to Ohio State. Jackson has since softened his commitment to the Buckeyes.

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